But that decision appears to have been reached a little early, partly because the Angels have won six of their last seven games and partly, a separate source said, because the team has been underwhelmed by the players offered in return.
Ohtani is a transcendent two-way star who is expected to finish within the top two in American League MVP voting for a third straight year and then command a free-agent contract worth at least $500 million. Moreno, who has declined to both trade Ohtani and sell the franchise over the past year, is expected to make a run at re-signing him in the offseason. Sources have said Ohtani would prefer to stay with the team for the stretch run and that Moreno would have no shot to bring him back as a free agent if he were to instead trade Ohtani to another team.
The Angels are four games back of the final wild-card spot in the American League going into Thursday's doubleheader against the Tigers, with